Children’s Relief International

Carl Califano (also known as "Uncle Carl") is visiting India this week! Carl has served with CRI for 9 years. He trains our native leaders in effective project management skills, organizational planning, and micro-enterprise development. He is putting his skills and experience to good use, and we are so thankful to have him on board. After several visits to our ministries in India, the kids now recognize him and affectionately refer to him as "Uncle Carl." Today they showed him all they have been learning—reciting their numbers, the English and Bengali alphabets, and rhymes with hand gestures. Before Carl left the preschool, the kids crowded around him for a picture. Next stop, the Rajah Children's Home in Rajahmundry. Safe travels, Uncle Carl!    

Dear friends of CRI and the Ray of Light Project,
On the morning of the 29th a fire swept through much of the Cessito's home. The roof, office, all the computers, books, printers and modems were burned and destroyed. With the rainy season coming, they fear their will be more damaged due to the missing roof and no way to protect the inside of their home.
The Cessito's have been part of the CRI family for 11 years. Their loss and heartache is ours too.
We would like to raise $10,000 to help. Please consider a gift to the Cessito's to restore their home and replace items that were destroyed.
To give a gift via credit card, go to our donate page.
Under Give to our Projects you can choose Emergency Fund - Cessito's Fire Repair. (All gifts are tax deductible)

Anita Fredrick, CRI Missionary is hosting a "Taste of Africa" Benefit Dinner in the Chicago area. This year the Taste of Africa event will feature experiencing Africa. Awaken your senses to smell and taste authentic African cuisine; feel the rhythms of Africa in music and dancing; see A Day in the Life of Louisa, and hear stories about children in Africa. Date: Sunday December11, 2011 Time: 5 p.m. Location: Veterans of Foreign Wars 39 E Saint Charles Rd, Villa Park, IL60181-2411 Parking will be next door in the Jewel parking lot. RSVP: RSVP to the event by purchasing your tickets.  Once you've purchased your tickets an e-ticket will be e-mailed to you within 24 hrs. Purchase Tickets Here. Photo taken at last year's "Taste of Africa"

Here is a letter we received from one of our generous donors. This spring as we were dividing plants, we decided to hold a giveaway. Our perennials overflowed from our garden beds. Then we decided to set out a can and ask people to give a donation when they came. My children wanted to sell lemonade and brownies and drew a dozen beautiful plant pictures to sell for the cause. They predicted we would collect $10, $20, or $30 from the sale. We prayed and then dug and dug plants, mixed and mixed juice, and drew and drew pictures for a whole week! Dozens came, and at the end we counted $240 in our jar. It was an amazing experience for us all!  Thank you Christa, Lainey, Callie, Ginger, Ethan and Elliot for making a difference in the lives of the poor. Visit our How You Can Help page to join us in serving the poorest of the poor.

Here is a note we received from Smriti Maity, the project leader of our Mudpaths Ministry. We are very excited about her work in the slums of Kolkata. Read below for a small glimpse of the impact her ministry has had in the lives of God’s little ones... Sonia, from Kalighat (the Red Light District), was so excited as we celebrated her birthday yesterday. Isn’t she beautiful! She called her neighbors and friends to share her joy and showed them the gift and special cake she had received. That was her first time to hear prayer rejoicing that Lord Jesus has added another year into her life. Also we prayed for His protection, His wisdom and asked for His blessings upon this little girl. Truly she was touched, loved and blessed. Like  Sonia, around 20-27 children are attending in our class. Of course we end each lesson with story of Jesus. Each of them are interested to know Christ deeply. God has entrusted in our care to minister to those precious children. Transforming and softening hearts of vulnerable children, broken moms, impoverished communities is only possible with God's miraculous touch. What makes the work worth doing is the God we are serving. If you would like to be a part of God's work in the slums of Kolkata, India click here to learn How You Can Help.